Nigerian instrumentalist Blessing Oche, better known as Meez-Bee, takes a jazz-inspired approach to her three-track EP, Aura. With the trumpet at the centre of the project, she brings together guitar, piano, bass and drums to create three instrumentals that sound quite different from one another.
The project starts with “Bliss,” a cheerful track that opens with a lovely guitar melody supported by bass and drums. There is a nice groove to it, and when the trumpet comes in, the music becomes even more lively. The piano also finds its way into the arrangement, adding to the melody without taking attention away from the trumpet. It is an easy song to enjoy, the kind you could have playing on a bright afternoon and find yourself nodding along to without even realising.
“Jazzy” has a different feeling. The trumpet takes the lead again, but this time the music is smoother and more relaxed. The piano, strings and bass give it the atmosphere of a live jazz performance, perhaps at a dinner or an evening gathering. I particularly like how the trumpet and piano work together here. One takes the lead while the other supports it, and that exchange is what makes the track interesting. It is probably the closest the project gets to traditional jazz.
Then there is “Wins,” which brings a more celebratory sound to the EP. The percussion is more noticeable, with the piano and trumpet carrying a melody that feels triumphant. Listening to it brings to mind the ending of a movie where the main character has finally achieved something after a long struggle. There is a sense of relief and excitement in the music, almost as though the instruments themselves are celebrating. It is quite different from the first two tracks and a good way to end the project.
What I find interesting about Aura is that Meez-Bee doesn’t need to change her entire sound to create different feelings. The same instruments appear across the three songs, but the arrangements give each one its own character. “Bliss” is playful, “Jazzy” is calmer, and “Wins” sounds like a celebration.
Three tracks feel a little too short, especially when the music is this easy to settle into. Still, Aura shows what Meez-Bee can do with her trumpet and a good arrangement. You don’t need lyrics to understand what she’s trying to communicate, and that is probably the most enjoyable thing about the project.
